“Who is it, Barbara?” asked Stephen. “Have you any idea?”
“I can’t imagine,” replied Bab. “Perhaps it’s just a coincidence. I am not an uncommon type and may have lots of doubles. There are many people in this world who have brown eyes and brown hair. You meet them at every turn.”
“Yes,” said Ruth, “but all of them haven’t regular features and little crisp curls, and just that particular expression. However, we must go. We shouldn’t like the hermit to come back and find us prying into his affairs. And that is why he is here, evidently—to hide from pryers.”
“Yes,” agreed Stephen, “I really do think we had better be going. I know a pretty little dell where we can eat lunch if Jimmie can restrain his appetite until we get there.”
“Well, cut along, then,” ordered Jimmie, “and let us hasten to the banquet hall.”
Closing the door carefully behind them the young folks hurried toward the woodcutters’ road.
CHAPTER XVI—A SURPRISE
When the last sandwich had been eaten, and the last crumb of cake disposed of, the picnic party leaned lazily against the moss-covered trunk of a fallen tree to discuss the events of the morning.
José was the subject of the talk. All were inclined to believe, now, that they had been deceived by the strong resemblance between the young Spaniard and the mischievous person who had mystified them in the woods that morning. It seemed impossible that José was a thief, or that he could have been guilty of such trifling trickery as the individual in the robber’s clothes. José, quiet and reserved though he was, had become a favorite with the young people.
“It is strange,” said Ruth. “He must have the nameless charm, because there is not one of us who does not like him. As for me, I feel sorry for him. And why, I’d like to know?”